Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Butler
Strong Pitching Guides Falcons to 3-1 Win Over Butler
March 08, 2010 | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Continuing their trek through the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Tournament, Bowling Green baseball turned their attention from yesterday's ninth inning loss to Rhode Island to the Butler Bulldogs of the Horizon League for Monday morning's matchup. Bowling Green allowed the game's first run for the second consecutive day but received its best single game pitching performance from senior Kevin Leady, helping guide the Falcons to a 3-1 victory over Butler.
In the top of the first inning lead off hitter Luke Duncan of the Bulldogs hit a single into left field and swiped second base putting him in scoring position. After Leady sat down the next to BU hitters, Kevin Crane sent a first pitch off-speed offering back up the middle and into center field to put the Bulldogs on the board, 1-0. The run triggers Leady's dominance that he sustained through the next seven innings after he struck out at least one batter in every inning that he pitched in thereafter.
Leady totaled eight strikeouts on the day, four of which he caught opposing hitters looking. His earned run in the first inning was the only run he allowed on the day. He spread out six Butler hits, a walk and a hit batsman over eight innings of work, using 104 pitches to do so.
Bowling Green tied the game in the bottom half of the second inning. Lead off hitter Clay Duncan was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. After Matt Vannett struck out looking, Patrick Martin reached first on a fielder's choice retiring Duncan at second. Rounding out the bottom of the lineup, T.J. Blanton knocked Martin home on a two-bagger scoring the sophomore form first base to tie the game at one.
Bowling Green would put runners on the base paths for the next three innings, but left four men on base in that time.
In the sixth inning, David Borcherdt started the frame off with a double. Bowling Green, Ohio native Matt Vannett brought what would the game-winning run around the bases on an RBI double with one out, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead after six innings.
For insurance the Falcons added one more run in the home half of the eighth inning when Duncan reached base on a one-out single, setting up the hometown hero once again for another RBI extra-base hit. Vannett's second double of the day scored Duncan from first base and extended the Falcon lead to two runs.
Closing the door on the game was sophomore relief pitcher Ross Gerdeman, who notched his first career save. He retired three consecutive batters after allowing a lead off single to Grant Fillipitch, but ended the game striking out Jack Krause chasing a 1-2 fastball on the outside half of the dish.
The win gives the Falcons a 2-7 record overall and improve to 2-1 tournament mark during their stay in Winter Haven, Florida. The Falcons are set to play Sacred Heart University on Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.
